The
President decided today to proceed with full-scale development of the small
intercontinental ballistic missile and to begin development of a mobile, rail
garrison basing mode for Peacekeeper. These two programs are an integrated
package to modernize ICBM's. The decision authorizes research and development only.
In response to congressional direction to consider alternate basing modes and
deployment areas for Peacekeeper, the President has decided that a basing mode
be developed to place missiles on railroad cars during peacetime at military
installations around the country. During times of national emergency, the
Peacekeeper missiles could be moved to classified locations.

The
main operating base for Peacekeeper rail garrison would be at F.E. Warren AFB,
WY, where there is already a sizable investment in Peacekeeper support
facilities. Garrisons would be located at F.E. Warren AFB and at other Defense
installations throughout the continental United States. After considering the
alternatives for satisfying the military-related requirements, the President
has decided that the candidate installations for these garrisons should include
10 additional Air Force bases. Information on these candidates will be provided
in the near future. The President has also decided to develop the small
intercontinental ballistic missiles, weighing approximately 37,000 pounds and
carrying a single reentry vehicle, in hard mobile launchers in two basing
modes. These modes are called hard mobile launcher at Minuteman facilities and
hard mobile launcher in random movement.

The
initial operating capability for the small ICBM would be achieved in 1992 with
the first systems positioned at Minuteman facilities at Malmstrom
AFB, MT. After activation of the missiles in Montana, follow-on systems
could be deployed at other Minuteman facilities at F.E. Warren AFB, WY (with
locations extending into Nebraska and Colorado), and Ellsworth AFB,
SD. Later missiles could be deployed in random movement on large tracts of
government land located in the southwestern portion of the country. This could
involve deployments at a Texas-New Mexico complex consisting of FortBliss, WhiteSandsMissileRange, and Holloman AFB, and
at an Arizona complex consisting of
the Luke Air Force Range and Yuma Proving Ground. Holloman AFB and the Yuma
Proving Ground would serve as main operating bases for the respective
complexes.

The
total quantity of systems to be produced and the extent to which the missiles
are to be deployed will be dependent upon the size of the Soviet threat and
progress reached on arms control agreements.